Evaluating Kasparas Jakucionis, Ben Humrichous, and Kwame Evans in the Illinois-Oregon Game

January 3rd, 2025

Yesterday, I decided to watch Illinois play against Oregon, as this game featured some of the top prospects for the 2025 draft, and Illinois’ freshman guard, Kasparas Jakucionis is a highly skilled, productive playmaker that could end up being a lottery pick this year. In addition, it was another chance to see Will Riley, Tomislav Ivisic, and Kwame Evans play. The first half was close, but Illinois was able to run away with the game to win by double-digits over Oregon. Here are my thoughts on how Jakucionis and other various prospects fared, as well as how they may currently stack up as prospects for the NBA.

6-6 freshman guard, Kasparas Jakucionis scored 16 points, made 2 threes, and had 6 assists and 6 rebounds in Illinois’ 109-77 win over Oregon yesterday. (Photo: Thomas Boyd/Associated Press, via Chicago Tribune)

Kasparas Jakucionis had a strong showing in his team’s win over Oregon. He especially thrived as an offensive player in this game, and he is a crafty playmaker that excelled as a shot maker and facilitator when he was on the court.

Jakucionis especially shot the ball well from the outside. He showed a knack for making step-back threes, as he showed good form and has a lot of range on his shot. He also was able to make a step-back mid-range jumper, and he is a very good shooter that was able to effortlessly make pull-up jumpers from intermediate to long distances. He also showed a good ability to score off the dribble. He is a crafty scorer that has a subtly quick first step, and he has the balance, body control, and scoring touch to regularly finish plays at the rim. Sometimes though, he would sometimes take tough shots that would result in misses around the basket.

Also, he displayed very good playmaking skills in this game. Jakucionis has great court vision, as he showed a knack for finding open shooters and teammates on the move, and he was able to make a couple of very impressive plays to get the ball to his teammates. He was able to make an eye-popping, between-the-legs pass back to a teammate in transition to notch an assist. He also threw a no-look pass to a roll man another time. Sometimes though, he would anticipate reads but throw passes too quickly, which would occasionally result in inaccurate passes that would go out of bounds.

He also did a good job of rebounding the basketball. Jakucionis played adequate defense. He was able to quickly jump a pass to get a steal. In this game though, he would sometimes try to go for blocks when making his rotations, which would lead him to commit touch fouls.

In general, Kasparas Jakucionis is a 6-6 freshman point guard that played very well for Illinois to help lead his team to a blowout win over Oregon, and he was dominant in the second half of this game. He is a smart, cerebral playmaker whose versatility, skill set, and feel for the game could make him one of the best prospects in the upcoming draft class, and he could end up being a top 5 pick in the 2025 draft, and he looks to be a polished prospect that could end up being a solid starter in the NBA.

Ben Humrichous also played very well to help lead Illinois to a double-digit win over Oregon. The 6-9 senior forward really excelled as a shooter and scorer, and he also showcased better than advertised athleticism, as he also put forth a dominant second half display to get his team the victory.

Humrichous shot the ball very well, especially from downtown. He showed a knack for making quick, open spot-up threes off the catch, and he was able to make three-pointers with ease. He also excelled at scoring out of the post. He was able to use a hop step move to score on a smooth, fadeaway jumper. He also managed to score on a strong leaner another time. He also showcased some solid athletic gifts by driving in from the baseline to throw down a magnetic dunk to give his team a boost.

He also displayed decent playmaking skills. Humrichous showed that he can handle the basketball, and he is a willing passer, as he was able to swing the ball to notch an assist. He also took good care of the basketball, and he did not turn the ball over once. Though he didn’t grab many boards in this game, he was able to get a pair of defensive rebounds in this game. He also played solid defense in this game. He was able to get his hands on a pass to get a steal, and he would stay with his man, use his positioning, and contest shots to force misses. On one play though, he sagged a bit too far off his man, which led his team to give up a corner three basket.

In summary, Humrichous had a strong showing in this game, and he is an agile, skilled forward that could project into a 3 and D role at the NBA level, and he could end up being a solid role player in the NBA.

Kwame Evans had a solid showing in his team’s tough loss to Illinois. The sophomore forward had a strong second half performance, and while he struggled a bit with some early turnovers, he shot the ball very well, and he was able to make a really good defensive play late in the game to showcase his defensive potential.

Evans shot the ball well, especially from beyond the arc. He excelled at making open spot-up threes off the catch, and he also made one off of a pick-and-pop play. Plus, he also showed a solid ability to score off the dribble, and he would drive hard to the hoop to score and get to the free throw line. He also managed to use a drop step move to get free throws when posting up once.

He also showed off fairly average playmaking skills in this game. When posting up once, Evans was able to make a quick pass across the paint to find an open man to notch an assist. He also was able to make a solid drive and dish pass to set up another score for his teammate, and Evans generally tended to make solid reads and showed promise as a passer. On the downside, sometimes he would throw inaccurate passes that would go out of bounds. Another time, he had a ball poked away after getting an offensive board once.

Though he didn’t grab many rebounds in this game, Evans was able to get a board on each end of the floor, and he also pushed the pace off of a defensive rebound. He also played adequate defense. Evans was able to rotate to poke a ball out of bounds to nearly get a steal. He also flew in to block a shot off of a drive to a teammate due to possessing solid length, athleticism, and timing. On the downside, sometimes he would play too aggressively, which would lead him to commit touch fouls. Another time, he sagged too far off his man, which led him to give up a three-point basket.

Overall, Kwame Evans has had his ups and downs throughout his collegiate career so far, but he has shown promise at times, as he is an athletic, energetic combo forward that could potentially be a dynamic role player if he can consistently find his outside shot. He’s struggled with his jump shot this season, but this was an encouraging game for him. He’ll need to be more consistent in games, but he is a talented prospect that could end up being a second round pick in the 2025 draft.

Tre White also quietly played well to help Illinois get a double-digit win over Oregon. The 6-7 junior forward excelled at scoring on hustle plays and on drives to the hoop, and he also was able to pull up to knock down a mid-range jumper. He missed his lone three-point attempt, but White generally thrived at making high-motor plays, as well as scoring on subtly good drives to the hoop.

He also showcased solid playmaking skills in this game. He tended to make good reads and passes off the dribble, which enabled him to get assists. On one play though, he was called for setting a moving screen. White also did a very good job of rebounding the basketball, and he also was able to block a couple of shots. Overall, White is an energetic, mobile forward that made solid plays on both ends of the floor, and while he will need to improve his outside shot, he is a versatile player that could end up making his way to the NBA someday.

Tomislav Ivisic also had a decent showing in his team’s win over Oregon. Though he didn’t have a dominant game, he showed enough skills to intrigue NBA teams for the 2025 draft. Ivisic did a decent job of knocking down outside shots. He was especially effective at making corner threes, and he is a very tall center that showed off a deft shooting touch, but he was less effective at making spot-up threes at other spots on the floor in this game. He also was able to make a jump hook from the mid-range.

He also displayed fairly average playmaking skills. Ivisic was able to find a cutter to set up a scoring chance for a teammate. He also set a solid on-ball screen to help his teammate dribble to an open spot to knock down an outside shot. On the downside, there was one play where he was called for setting a moving screen once.

Also, Ivisic did a good job of rebounding the basketball. He also defended fairly well. Ivisic was able to hustle back to block a shot to a teammate to prevent an opponent from scoring on the break. He also deflected a pass out of bounds another time. However, he also was a bit foul prone in this game.

Overall, this wasn’t Ivisic’s best game, but he showed off some intriguing skills on both ends of the floor. He’s had some very good games, and he is a skilled, versatile center that could be an intriguing option for NBA teams to consider in the late first to the second round range of the 2025 draft.

Kylan Boswell had a decent showing in his team’s win over Oregon. He did a great job of making pull-up threes off the dribble, and he especially shot the ball well from beyond the arc. However, he struggled to consistently score when he would drive to the hoop to take two-point shots. While he would sometimes show the strength, balance, and body control to finish plays at the rim, his lack of elite size or foot speed would make it tough for him to consistently finish plays in traffic.

He also showcased solid playmaking skills. Boswell generally did a good job of finding open teammates on the move, and he would make a slew of drive and kick passes to get the ball to his teammates. Sometimes though, he would over-dribble, which would lead him to get the ball ripped away to commit turnovers.

Though he didn’t grab many rebounds in this game, he was able to get an offensive board once. Boswell also defended well. He would jump passes and poke balls away to get steals and deflections, and he also contested a long two to force a miss late in this game. On the downside, sometimes he would struggle to stay in front of his man, which would lead his team to end up in compromised situations.

Overall, Boswell played fairly well in his team’s win over Oregon. He is a skilled playmaker that can shoot and pass the basketball, but his lack of elite size or athleticism may lower his ceiling as a prospect for the NBA. Still, he is a prospect whose offensive skills could enable him to carve out a niche role, and he could project well into a backup point guard role at the NBA level.

Oregon’s 6-5 senior guard, TJ Bamba quietly played well in his team’s tough loss to Illinois. He showed off versatile scoring skills, and he also passed and handled the ball well on offense. Bamba shot the ball well from the outside, as he was able to make a smooth, spot-up three, and he also pulled up to make a long two. He also showed a knack for scoring on crafty drives to the hoop. He didn’t take many shots in the second half, but Bamba was effective as a shot creator in this game.

He also showed off solid playmaking skills. He passed and handled the ball well, and he showed a knack for making crisp passes off the dribble to set up numerous scoring chances for his teammates. Bamba was able to notch a handful of assists due to possessing solid court vision and ball-handling skills, and while he threw a bad pass that got intercepted once, Bamba generally excelled as a facilitator on offense.

Though he didn’t grab many rebounds, he was able to get a defensive board once. Bamba was able to get a steal once, but sometimes his tendency to try to go for steals would lead him to commit touch fouls. Overall, Bamba played well, and he is a versatile player that could end up making his way to the NBA someday.

Nate Bittle also had a satisfactory showing in this game in his team’s loss to Illinois. Bittle had a solid first half, and he is a skilled big man that has shown an emerging outside shot. He was effective knocking down outside shots off the dribble, and he has good touch on his shot. He also would tend to score on hustle plays due to possessing good size and a solid motor.

He also looked to be fairly average as a playmaker in this game. Bittle did a good job of passing out of the post to get the ball to his teammates. However, sometimes he would struggle to handle the ball, and he was called for a traveling violation once.

He also was able to get his fair share of boards on both ends of the floor. He also played adequate defense in this game. Bittle was active at blocking shots, as he was able to swat a corner three as well as a shot off of a drive out of bounds. He also didn’t commit a single foul, but his team also allowed over a hundred points in this game.

Overall, Bittle played well in his team’s loss to Illinois. He is a tall, skilled center that can shoot and pass the basketball, but he will need to improve his mobility in the meantime, but his skill level and feel for the game could enable him to make it as a backup center at the NBA level.

Oregon’s 6-9 senior forward, Supreme Cook had a solid showing in his team’s loss to Illinois. He especially played well in the second half, and he was very effective as a low post scorer on offense. Cook showed a solid ability to score out of the post. He is a strong, mobile big man that would often back his man down to get deep position, and he would tend to score on jump hooks and drop step moves. He also was able to score on a couple of thunderous dunks when left open around the basket. He also would score off of offensive rebounds, as he was able to swoop in to score on a tip slam. He also drove in and used a pump fake to score while getting fouled another time. On the other hand, he didn’t really look to take many shots from the outside, and he missed on a turnaround, face-up mid-range jumper late in this game.

Cook was able to find the open man to notch an assist. While he didn’t grab any defensive rebounds against Illinois, he was solid as an offensive rebounder in this game. While he was active defensively, he tended to pick up fouls defensively, and there was one time where he lost track of his man on the baseline, as his team allowed his opponent to drive in to score on a baseline dunk. Overall, Cook had a solid showing, and he is a strong, athletic big man that excelled as a scorer in this game. He’ll need to extend his shooting range and improve in the other facets of the game, but his athleticism and ability to score around the basket could enable him to compete for a roster spot in the NBA in the future.

Illinois’ 6-6 junior forward, Jake Davis played very well in his team’s win over Oregon. He had a dominant first half, and he is a high-motor player that shot the ball very well, both from inside and out. Davis showed a knack for making quick, open spot-up threes off the catch. He also thrived at scoring on hustle plays, as he was able to score on a couple of put backs, as well as on a cut to the hoop. He excelled as a shooter, scorer, and rebounder off the bench, and Davis is a very energetic forward that could be a prospect to watch in the future.

Illinois’ 6-1 sophomore point guard, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn also played very well off the bench to give his team a big victory over Oregon. He especially thrived as a shooter, scorer, and lead ball handler when he was on the court. Gibbs-Lawhorn did a very good job of scoring on quick drives to the hoop, and he would often get quick, strong scores in traffic. He also used a pump fake move to score on a corner three. Overall, he is an athletic scorer that played very well in this game, and Gibbs-Lawhorn could be a prospect to keep tabs on in the future.

Illinois’ 6-9 freshman big man, Morez Johnson Jr. had his ups and downs, but he made some good plays in his team’s win over Oregon. He was effective as an inside scorer despite limited touches on offense, and he is an athletic shot blocker that can help his team protect the paint. However, he also was foul prone, and he had trouble defending stronger opponents in the post, as he especially struggled when matched up against Supreme Cook.

Still, Johnson was able to drive in from the baseline and made a power dribble move to score on a thunderous dunk. He also would fly in to block a couple of shots off the dribble, as he made highlight reel-worthy plays on both ends of the floor. Overall, Johnson will need to continue to hone his game and skills, but he is an athletic, energetic big man that could project to be a rim protector at the NBA level, especially if he can continue to progress as an overall player.

Surprisingly, Will Riley didn’t play nearly as much, and he had his ups and downs in his team’s win over Oregon. He didn’t play quite as well as expected, but he still had some good moments, as he was able to pull up to make a very deep three late in this game.

Riley showed a decent ability to knock down outside shots. He showed that he can capably knock down pull-up jumpers, both from three-point land and the mid-range, and he was able to spin to his left and use a pump fake to make a mid-range jumper once. On the downside, there was one drive where he got blocked on an off-balanced drive, as he did not seem to know where the help defense was that time.

He also showcased adequate playmaking skills. Riley was able to swing the ball to notch an assist. He also did a decent job of rebounding the basketball. On defense, there was one play where he rotated to foul an opponent on a drive in transition, but it led him to commit a foul and give up the basketball to give the other team a three-point play.

Overall, this wasn’t Riley’s best game, but he still had his moments. He’s had a solid season so far, and while he didn’t get nearly as much playing time nor made as much of an impact as hoped, based on other games, his size, athleticism, versatility, and upside could enable him to get selected by an NBA team in the 2025 draft.

All in all, those are my thoughts on how Jakucionis and others fared in this game. Thanks for reading.